Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has claimed that some legislators have been pushed by the Parliament administration to defend and protect Clerk of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda following the revelations that the House had awarded a laptop tender at inflated prices.
Blinart Investments P/L got the laptop tender after offering to supply the 173 laptops for US$1,602,755.77 translating to $9,200 per laptop while on the desktop front, Mid-End Computers and Hardware won the tender to supply the 79 machines for just over $3000 each.
Chokuda has since announced the cancellation of the two tenders citing public interest.
Posting on twitter, Mliswa said the latest development is a sign how deep rooted corruption is in the country.
“As the Public Accounts Committee works to find out the story behind the shocking US$9000 laptops some legislators have been lobbied by Parliament Administration to defend and protect Chokuda. It just goes to show the depth of corruption in this country.
“One argument they are seeking to push is that the matter doesn’t fall under PAC. This corroborates my previous argument that some of these legislators are compromised. They are not progressive and are for party politics. They can’t stand on their own principles and ethics.
“However, as long as some of us are there this won’t work. Some of us we don’t seek favours and will push to the bitter end. We are here to serve the people who voted for us and not to grovel for international trips. The blue-eyed boys of Parliament and parties won’t derail this!,” said Mliswa
He added “Parliament cannot be involved in corruption and politics shouldn’t be allowed to overreach, influencing the prescription of Parliament. In Parliament we should operate beyond the limitations of parties and personal preferences but uphold the agenda of the nation.
“That’s why I argue that @APNACZim should be structured independent of Parliament so as to protect it from the claws of compromise. Many initiatives fail to go anywhere because of these issues. We can’t be an appendage of Parliament but a freestanding and voluntary initiative. Some of us are not going to be massaged into being pliable to the whims of corrupt politicians or Gvt officials. Ini handidi hangu kushanda ndakabatirwa demo (I need not to work under duress), I want my independence and freedom.
“Compromised politicians are the downfall of many Portfolio Committees as they operate on the basis of political orientation, personal friendship and many unsavoury and unethical practices. That has to end!”
